Extension-table.



E. H. NIBMEYBR.

EXTENSION TABLE.

APPLICATION FILEDMAY 4, 1912.

. Patented Apr. 22, 1913.

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EDWARD I-I. NIEIVIEYER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

EXTENSION-TABLE.

. Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 22, 1913.

Application filed May 4, 1912. Serial No. 695,022.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD H. NIEMEYER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Extension-Tables, ofwhich the following is a specification. I

My invention relates to improvements in extension tables and in some ofits features particularly to tables of perimetrically curved or circularform wherein the extension leaves are of suitably curved or arcuateshape adapted jointly to constitute an encompassing or annular extensionof a permanenttop member.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a table so constructedthat the application or removal of the extension leaves may be easilyeffected by one person, standing in one posit-ion. i

Another object of my invention 1s to provide improved means for theconnection of the extension leaves with the table top.

A further object of my invention is to provide an advantageousconstruction whereby the leaves may be folded under the table top whennot in use and eectlvely held against accidental displacement fromfolded position. Y

Other and further objects o-f my invention will become apparent to thoseskilled inthe art from the following` description taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a transversesection (taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 2) through the table, with one leafmember folded under or stored and one leaf member in raised or extendedposition; Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the table top detached fromthe pedestal; F 1g.

3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and,

Fig. 4 is a perspective detail showing in detached relation thetop-locking parts.

The permanenttable top board 5 which, in the construction shown iscircular in form, is provided near its periphery with a .through thebearings in the bracket 16 and through the rim 6 of the table to asuitable operating knob or handle 20. Manifestly, when the knob 2O isretracted to unlatch the t-able top, said top may be rotated through acomplete revolution before the locking bolt l5 may again engage theregistering notches 13 and 14 of the two relatively rotatable plates.

The extension leaves 21 may be of any suitable number jointly to form aperimetric extension for the table top, and are herein shown as eight innumber, all of the said extension members being arcuate leaves which arealike in construction and equip` ment. Each such arcuate leaf hassecured to its under side at separated points, two parallel braces, orattaching arms, 22, each of which is preferably in the form of a narrowelongated bar with laterally extended attaching ears 23 and 23respectively near the center of its length and at one end forscrew-attachment to the under side of the extension leaf 21. Each braceextends beyond the inner edge of the leaf to provide a narrow projectingarm portion 24 having in its appropriate edge a recess 25 extending fromthe edge of the table leaf 21 almost to the extremity of the arm andthere terminating at the retaining finger orhookn26. Receptive sockets28 for these projecting arms 24 are let into and secured to the rim 6directly under the table top 5. Each such socket 28 is preferably asmall casting providing an escutcheon plate 29 secured exteriorly on therim 6 and made integral with a rectangular tubular portion 30 whichLextends through the rim 6. The top wall 31 of the tube 30 issufficiently extended to form an abutment for the recessed portion 25and finger 26 when arm 24 is slipped therein sufficiently to bring theinner edge of the arcuate leaf into contact with the outer edge of thetable top, and the bottom wall of said tube is preferably shorter.

' of arms 24 may rest.

Manifestly, the table is extended by slipping the several leaves intoplace each with the projecting arms 24 of its two braces 22 entering thereceptive sockets 26 so that the fingers 25 lodge behind the inner endsof the socket-walls 31 to prevent accidental withdrawal of the arms 24.Further to insure against accidental disengagement of the fingers 25from their positions last described, I provide for each leaf section atension spring 35, at one end attached to a lug 35 secured to the underside of the leaf near its outer edge and approximately centrally of itsarc, and at its opposite end arranged for attachment to the lowerportion of the rail 6, as by a spring guide 36, so that the spring pullsinwardly and downwardly upon the leaf.l "For purposes to be described,the guide 36 is preferably made of wire shaped somewhat like the letterJ, with its long limb or stem 37 inclining downward and outward from apoint -of attachment to the under side of the table top within theconfines of the rim 6; its lower bend or loop 38 extending below thebottom level of the rim 6; and its shorter limb connected to a plate 39,which is screwed to the under side of the table rim 6, the longer limb37 having formed at its upper portion, adjacent the under side of thetable top, a bend or retaining kink 40.

The configuration of the spring guide described is particularly designedto enable 4the single spring 35 to act as a retaining spring for holdingthe extension leaf in folded position under the table as well as in theextended position above described, the spring having a terminal eyewhich may slip upon the spring guide. To receive the extension leaveswhen they are so folded in under the table, I provide on the inside ofthe rim 6, in alinement with the socket' members 28, small brackets 42o-n which the ends Of course, when the table leaves are folded in underthe table as shown in Fig. 2 their ends overlap, and therefore theretaining brackets 42 for alter nate leaves throughout the series arearranged about midway of the height of the rail 6, and the correspondingbrackets for the Iintervening alternate leaves are arranged near thebottom level of said rim, 'so that the last said alternate leaves may bepositioned at a lower elevation than the first said alternate leaveswhen all are folded in. 'Io prevent the inner edges of those leaveswhich are lower when folded from striking the previously infolded leavesin Ythe higher plane, I provide stop-blocks 43 on the under side of thetable top to receive the inner edges of those leaves which are intendedto lie in the lower plane or tier.

The operation of the table as above described will now be apparent:Assuming all of the leaves to be folded as shown in Fig. 2, theoperation of the table is as follows: The operator, standing at thepoint where the knob 2O for the table-top lock is accessible; unlatchesthe table top and turns it slightly so that the lock-bolt is out ofregister with the notch 14. Then the operator, reaching under the table,lifts the contiguous leafv (which is one of the lower tier of leaveswhen folded) to remove the ends of arms 24 from supporting brackets 42,and swings said leaf from under the table, incidentally relieving thetension on the spring 35 which will then slip down the long limb 37ofspring guide 36 until its end-eye lies in the loop or bend 38 belowthe rim 6. The projecting arm portions 24 of braces 22 are then insertedin the receptive sockets 28, until the lingers 26 engage back of the topwall portions 31 of said sockets. In this position, the downward tensionof the spring 35, connected between the bottom of the rail 6 and theouter portion of the leaf, serves to retain the leaf against accidentaldisplacement. The operator then turns the table until the next leaf inthe lower tier (the third leaf of the series) is opposite him andrepeats the first mentioned operation, and so on until all of thealternate leaves on the lower tier are in place. Then the table is againturned and the remaining alternate leaves are correspondingly broughtinto place, such operation completing the extension of the table. Torestore the table to the original smaller size, the operation firstdescribed is just reversed, those leaves which are to form the uppertier when folded be` ing first restored to folded position, and then theintervening leaves of the lower tier. In the course of such operation,each leaf, intentionally freed from its socket, is passed under thetable (being turned upside down so that the spring overlies the leaf)and the spring is suficiently stretched so that the free ends of arms 24may be placed upon the appropriate brackets 42. In the course of thisrestoration of the leaf to folded position, the spring rides up theinclined long limb 37 of the spring guide until it seats itself in theretaining bend 40, the tension of the spring tending to pull thenow-inner edge of the leaf (normally-outer end thereof) outward andupward and so eectively maintaining the free ends of arms 22 againstdisplacement from the brackets 42.

It will be observed that the rotatability of the table top not onlyenables the operation of the table to be eected frolnone position of theoperator,but it also enables the table to be set or cleared fromwhatever point may be most convenient. The position of the operatinghandle 20 also serves as an index for directing the order in which theleaves shall be successively operated in opening and closing the table.

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While I have herein described in some detail a particular embodiment ofmy invention which I have found advantageous and useful, it will beapparent to those skilled in the art that many changes in the details ofconstruction and arrangement might be made Without departure from-thespirit of the invention and within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. In a table, the combination of a base, a permanent top member mountedthereon and provided with a rim adjacent its edge, a plurality ofextension leaves, brackets on one edge of the leaves, and cooperatingmeans on said rim to receive said brackets when the leaves are inextended position outside of the top and When the leaves are in reversedposition folded within the rim, Whereby the same brackets are supportedby the rim in either extended or folded position of the leaves.

2. In a table, the combination of a base, a permanent top member mountedthereon, and provided with a rim adjacent its edge, a plurality ofextension leaves, brackets on said leaves, means on the rim arranged tobe detachably engaged by said bracket-s `when the leaves are on theoutside of the rim, means carried by said rim adapted tol be detachablyengaged by said brackets when the leaves are on the inside of the rim,and means to support said leaves upon the rim for movement to theoutside or to the inside of the rim for engagement respectively with therst said or with the second said bracketengaged means of said rim,whereby the leaves are carried by the rim when in extended or foldedposition.

3. In a table, the combination of a base, a permanent top member mountedthereon and provided with a rim adjacent its edge, a plurality ofextension leaves, brackets on .said leaves arranged to detachably engagethe rim when the leaves are on the out-side or on the inside of the rim,and resilient connections between each leaf and the rim operable to holdsaid leaf with its bracket in firm engagement of the rim when said leafis on the outside or on the inside of the rim, whereby said leaves arecarried by the rim when in extended or when in folded position.

4. In a table, the combination of a base, a permanent top member mountedthereon and provided with a rim adjacent its edge,

`a plurality of extension leaves, brackets on said leaves extending fromthe inner edge of each thereof, bracket-engaging means upon the innersurface of said rim, below the upper edge thereof, means carried by saidrim to receive in engagement therewith said brackets from the outside ofthe rim;v

and resilient means to retain each leaf with its bracket in engagementwith the rim-carried bracket-engaging means on either the outside or theinside of the rim.

5. In a table, the combination of a base, a permanent top member mountedthereon and provided with a rim adjacent its edge, a plurality ofextension leaves, brackets on the leaves arranged to detachably engagethe rim when the leaves are outside or inside of the rim, a springsecured to each leaf near its outer edge, the other end of the springbeing slidably secured to the rim, whereby the leaves are carried by therim when in extended or in folded position and are resiliently held inextended or in folded position by said springs.

6. In an extension table, the combination of a permanent circular topboard, a rim extending below said top board near its edge, retainingsockets in said rim, arcuate extension leaves, arms on said leaves toengage said sockets, tension springs engaging said leaves, springbrackets on said rim engaged by said spring, each providing an inner legalong which the spring is vertically shiftable, and means on the insideof said rim to be engaged by the extension leaf arm when said leaves arein folded position within the rim.

7. In a folding table, the combination of a base, a circular top boardrotatably mounted on said base, a rim extending below said top boardnear its edge, retaining sockets in said rim, arcuate extension leaves,arms on said leaves to engage said sockets, tension springs engagingsaid leaves, spring brackets on said rim engaged by said spring, eachproviding an inner leg along which the spring is vertically shiftable,and means on the inside of said rim to be engaged by the extension leafarms when said leaves are in folded position within said rim.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence of twowitnesses.

EDWARD H. NIEMEYER.

In the presence of W. L. PERKINS, MARY F. ALLEN.

copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

